DEPLETION OF CATTLE STOCKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 10

DEPLETION OF CATTLE STOCKS.

It is noteworthy how everything to do with farming apparently hinges on the present hideous Hunnish war—how agricultural and pastoral conditions have perforce undergone, and are still undergoing, changes throughout the world. We see how our live stocks, particularly cattle, are beitig rapidly depleted. If war ceased to-morrow we should find that Europe would require to import from 16 to 20 millions of cattle to make up the present deficit; and yet the wholesale slaughtering of breeding stock goes on. It is more than likely that, after the war, there will be a world scarcity of meat — almost a world famine. Word comes from the Homeland that the cattle stocks there must be still further greatly reduced owing to the possible forthcoming scarcity in feeding stuffs, and the now enforced curtailment of pasture land, due to the need of growing cereals and foodstuffs in connection with the present food campaign. It is now proposed to have slaughtered about a quarter of a million store cattle in the national interest — 100,000 in Ireland and 150,000 in England, Scotland, and Wales. In America they are greatly concerned about the wholesale slaughter of cows at present taking place ,• and it is confidently anticipated that milk will, within a year, be making Is a quart, and be scarce at that price. America has not been long at war, and yet at Pennsylvania the other day 80 per cent, of the milch cows exposed at the various public sales were bought to be converted into beef. In dozens of instances the butchers out-bid the dairy and cattlefarmers, who wanted the cows either for breeding or dairying purposes. The market price for beef permitted any butcher to outbid any dairy or cattle farmer. Anyone can see that, unless we take cognisance of what is happening elsewhere in regard to breeding stock and call a halt ourselves, a very similar position might eventuate here to the detriment of some of our main primary industries. The output and export of dairy products and beef might easily be crippled in next to no time. It takes two or three years to bring cows to a milk-producing age, and still we complacently witness every week young cows bought for slaughter, merely for their hides and the few hundred pounds of meat they carry. These same young cows would probably have been good for milk purposes for a dozen years. Then, again, what about finding in the near future enough dairy stock for those of our returning men, and those who will take up land in the Dominion? We are destined to witness a soldier immigration from all parts of the Empire, many of whom will want arab'e lands, not pastoral areas, close to settlement, and who will want young dairv cows. Where they are to come from from if we take no steps to curtail the potting of our breeding stock? Despite the present high values of beef the demand is only now apparently setting in. The most optimistic individual surely can see nothing but ominous warnings in the latest cattle returns. As we anticipated and have pointed out a score of times, our cattle stocks are being rapidly depleted. For the year ending the 31st March, 1917, 20,403 more cattle were slaughtered than in the previous year. Note how the slaughter of cows for export has mounted up year bv year since the war began. We find that in 1914, apart from what were killed at ordinary slaughter-houses, 36,364 cows were slaughtered for export: in 1915, 58.247; 1916, 94.314; 1917, 103,877. It is an insane policy to continue slaughtering our breeding stock in this fashion, many of them but half-fat, while we can surely do without veal under present conditions. Mjeat is wanted —yes; but there is such a uiing as economy in live stock, and the avoidance of drawing too much on breeding animals. To save the cows, some regulation may be required, as no industry will for long stand such inroads into its capital—in this case breeding stock. If graziers will but become sensed of the position and alive to the necessitv of making the most of their cattle, possibly no legislation in the matter will be required; but each individual owner should look ahead and realise his responsibilities to mankind generally and to the Empire in particular. Breeders have this to remember : that it is not only this year they have to think of, but future years.